In this article, we will consider the main types of foot fungus.
All fungal infections are called by the general term mycosis. Experts divide them into two main categories - onychomycosis and ringworm. In the first case, microorganisms penetrate under the nail, in the second, the skin is affected. Further, absolutely all types of foot fungi are classified according to the causative agent of the disease and the main symptoms.
Main species
First of all, the type of fungus that affects the legs depends on the causative agent of the disease. Pathogenic microorganisms are divided into several groups: dermatophytes, yeasts and molds. They are capable of causing common lesions such as:
- Onychomycosis;
- Candidiasis;
- Addermophytosis;
- Rubrophytia.
The last one is the general name of a group of pathologies in which the feet are affected. All diseases are also divided intogroups based on clinical manifestations: membranous, moccasin-like, vesicular.
Types of foot fungus, photos and treatment with folk methods will be discussed below.
Rubrophytia
The second name of this disease is rubromycosis. It is distinguished by overcrowding of blood vessels, dryness and severe peeling. Pathology develops very slowly and almost imperceptibly for a person who has become infected.
Very unpleasant foot fungus in the form of bubbles.
The first signs are itching and peeling, which become noticeable already in the later stages of the disease. Damage to the nails also occurs at this stage. Outwardly, the disease is manifested by the appearance of blisters, crusts, plaques, pustules, which are localized over the entire surface of the sole. When a large number of plaques and vesicles appear, a person begins to experience pain when walking.
Determining the type of foot fungus (pictured) in the treatment plays a key role. Before prescribing rubrophytia therapy, it is necessary to conduct microscopy and study the clinical picture. Elimination of lesions is carried out with the help of exfoliating (keratolytic) agents. For the most part, these are ointments and creams based on salicylic acid. Therapy is usually complex. In parallel with external agents, antifungal agents are prescribed, such as Triderm, Mycozolon, Nizoral, Ketaconazole.
If the disease is severe, you should start taking drugs in the form of tablets. Damage to the nail platestreated by removing them with emollients such as Batrafen, Demicten, Loceryl, Exoderil.
This type of foot fungus (see photo above) is characterized by a high degree of contagiousness. It is enough to touch the things used by the carrier of the infection. The likelihood of infection increases many times over if a person suffers from excessive sweating, has a weakened immune system and any damage to the feet.
The causative agent of the disease is the fungus Tr. Mentagrophytesvar. It is able to penetrate into the granular and horny layers of the skin, spread and cause severe reactions of allergic and other types:
- pain when walking, burning and itching;
- deformation and yellowing of nails;
- appearance of crusts, scales, painful cracks;
- corrosion of the skin (maceration);
- appearance of pustules, edema;
- rash of bubbles with a dense crust.
Diagnosis of this type of foot fungus is to study the external signs and the clinical picture. If the causative agent of the pathology is not obvious, clinical studies may be required, for example, the study of scrapings under a microscope.
Therapy of acute rubrophytia involves the use of medications based on silver nitrate 0.25%, calcium 10% and resorcinol 1%. If allergic reactions occur, antihistamines should be used, for example, Dimedrol, Suprastin or Diazolin. The choice of antifungal agent depends entirely onthe clinical course of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient.
What other types of foot fungus are there?
Stop candidiasis
This type of fungus occurs in patients much less frequently than epidermophytosis or rubromycosis. Pathology occurs under the influence of a fungus from the genus Candida. Such microorganisms live in the body of every person, but they are considered to be opportunistic pathogens. That is, they do not pose a threat in small quantities, but their rapid reproduction can cause unpleasant symptoms and consequences. Uncontrolled reproduction of the fungus begins if there is a decrease in immunity during hypothermia, from overwork or frequent stress. External factors include:
- wearing, especially in summer, uncomfortable shoes;
- injuries received at home or at work;
- Permanent maceration of the skin of the feet (exfoliation of the skin as a result of prolonged exposure to water).
There are two types of foot candidiasis: hyperkeratotic and vesicular-pustular. The first form of candidiasis is characterized by thickening of the stratum corneum. Quite wide furrows of a light brown color begin to appear on it, which are constantly peeling off. For the purpose of diagnosis, exfoliation is carried out, and further study of particles in which Candida fungi are found.
Visicular-pustular form of candidiasis manifests itself in the form of hyperemia (overcrowding of blood vessels), severe swelling, maceration. Areas of affected skin are coveredpustules and small flat vesicles. After the extinction of the inflammatory processes, peeling develops. The appointment of therapy is possible only after determining the exact diagnosis. The choice of medications for this type of foot fungus with blisters is carried out on an individual basis. Most often, drugs for systemic and local effects are indicated: Itraconazole, Fluconazole.
Onychomycosis
This disease is a type of foot fungus, characterized by fungal infection of the nail. You can get infected in public showers, saunas, baths, pools. Scales containing a pathogenic microorganism are quite easily separated from the nail plate and can remain on floors, carpets, bedding, unpainted benches. High humidity allows them not only to survive, but also promotes active reproduction, and therefore the risk of infection increases significantly.
At the initial stage, the infection enters the epidermis of the feet, causing severe itching. In order to ease the discomfort, a person begins to comb the infected area, but the situation is only aggravated by this. The areas of the skin affected by the fungus are covered with small scratches and cracks, microorganisms begin to spread, penetrate under the nail plate, after which they begin to multiply uncontrollably.
Severe diseases like diabetes or HIV, impaired circulation, trauma to the nail greatly increase the risk of infection.
Onychomycosis is divided into 3 types.
- Normotrophic. With this type of onychomycosis, a change in the color of the nail from normal to yellow-brown is observed. Natural shine, nail shape and thickness remain unchanged.
- Hypertrophic. There is a final change in the color of the nail, its shine disappears, the shape changes, thickening develops and partial destruction begins.
- Onycholytic. The color of the affected nail changes to brown, it becomes thinner, begins to break. It begins to gradually separate from the bed. Uneven layers may be observed on the exposed part of the nail bed.
Therapy of this type of fungus on the palms and feet with topical medications is ineffective due to the fact that the spores of the fungus are located under the nail. Before starting treatment, the nail should be removed. This is done with the help of keratolytic drugs, patches are also used. In some cases, it is possible to remove the nail mechanically: nail particles that have died off are cut off with a nail file or nippers. It is important to remember that all instruments used must be sterile.
The combined use of mechanical removal and keratolytic patches is the most effective way to remove a diseased nail. From keratolytic agents, you can use the ready-made Mykospor kit. It contains a special ointment, nail files for scraping off the nail, and a plaster. After the nail plate has been removed, you should start taking systemic antimycotics: Terbinafine, Intraconazole, Ketoconazole or Griseofulvin. Not everyone knows these drugs titles.
It is quite difficult to determine the type of foot fungus from the photo.
Interdigital (intertriginous) form
The most common and unpleasant type of pathology is the intertriginous form of a fungal infection. Quite often appears in the summer, begins to develop between the third and fourth fingers. Over time, the lesion spreads to areas between other fingers.
At the very beginning, a small crack, funnel or sore appears in the crease between the fingers. It is surrounded by diaper rash or scaly skin of a slightly greenish color. Most often, the damage becomes wet, sometimes pus oozes from it. The erased type of fungus is characterized by pronounced or floury peeling, as if there is flour on the surface of the finger. A similar impression arises from the large number of affected scales that are separated from the skin. Mild itching is present without much discomfort.
In the advanced form of the disease, there is stratification of the nails, severe coarsening, multiple cracks, callus-like horny seals, pronounced yellowing.
In very rare cases, a weeping type disease develops - an exudative fungus. Its main difference is that vesicles are poured out on the affected areas - bubbles filled with liquid inside. Therapy should be carried out comprehensively. Mycozoral, Lamisil, Clotrimazole are used as topical agents. It is necessary to treat nails with Oflomil, Batrafen, Loceril. advanced form of the diseaseinvolves taking systemic antimycotics: Terbinafine, Fluconazole, Lamisil. The course of treatment should be continued until the fungus disappears completely.
Squamous-hyperkeratotic form
This type of foot fungus (pictured below) is not very common.
Squamosis is the process of penetration of pathogenic fungi into outer skin cells. Hyperkeratosis is the formation of the stratum corneum, resulting in a thickening of the dermis. In this regard, the squamous-hyperkeratotic form of mycosis has several more names, for example, "moccasin fungus" and "athlete's foot".
Squamous-hyperkeratotic type of mycosis is characterized by the following symptoms.
- The sole of the foot is covered with a compacted keratinized layer of the dermis, resulting in the impression that the leg is wearing moccasins.
- The roughness of the sole occurs so much that it begins to become covered with wide and rather thick calluses.
- Painful cracks appear on the calluses.
- The peeling becomes floury type, the pattern on the skin is visible to the naked eye.
- An unbearable itch appears.
- Over time, nails begin to thin, break and crumble.
When treating moccasin fungus, it is first of all very important to eliminate the stratum corneum of the skin. This is done using soap and soda foot baths, wraps, salicylic compresses, ichthyol ointment. Salicylic ointment is used in dosages up to 10%. Effectivecreams based on petroleum jelly, ointments containing lactic acid. If you cannot cope with this task at home, you should seek help from a podiatric center. With the help of a hardware manicure, a specialist will carefully remove the keratinized dermis.
The subsequent treatment of the type of foot fungus will depend on the type of pathogen. It should be started only after an accurate diagnosis has been made. It is not recommended to treat moccasin mycosis without first removing the keratinized layer of the skin - the active components in the composition of the drug will not be able to penetrate through it and reach the source of infection. As a result, all efforts will be nullified.
Photos of types of foot fungus cannot fully reflect all the unpleasant symptoms that a person experiences.
Dishydrating form
Vesicular fungus, or, as it is also called, dyshydric mycosis is the rarest type of disease. Its main manifestation is numerous vesicles combined into conglomerates. Vesicles are vesicles filled with pus or nutrient fluid from the inside. When the turbidity of the liquid begins, the vesicles burst, and ulcers remain in their place. They begin to merge into one line, forming pronounced scars on the skin. This is due to the drying and flaking of the skin layers.
About 70% of vesicular fungus infections are accompanied by allergic rashes. A variety of bacteria and viruses begin to penetrate into the ulcers. As a result, the disease becomes mixed, the definition of the original pathogenbecomes more difficult. Therefore, a doctor should be consulted as soon as the primary symptoms appear (pictured): he can quickly identify the type of foot fungus and begin therapy.
And this should be done immediately. First of all, before using antimycotic drugs, an acute process should be eliminated. It is better to entrust this task to a specialist: he will be able to gently pierce the vesicles, treat the remaining ulcers with 2% boric acid and smear with a brilliant green solution or methylene blue.
Treatment of advanced disease involves the use of corticosteroid ointments. After the elimination of the inflammatory process, it is recommended to use local antimycotic agents. This will suppress the pathogen.
We continue to consider the names and types of foot fungus.
Erased shape
Mycosis of the erased form is almost invisible, its symptoms are minimal. These include: slight itching, burning, peeling of the floury type, microcracks located in the interdigital zones. If you do not contact a specialist when the first signs of the disease appear, the pathology can turn into the form of onychomycosis, which is much more difficult to treat. In this case, the exfoliated nail will grow from one to six months.
They treat mycosis of the erased form with local preparations: ointments, creams, foams. They allow you to create a layer on the foot that will protect against infection with other infections. Within a day after applying such a drug, do notfoot washing recommended.
Only in extreme cases can systemic therapy be prescribed. The problem is that such drugs are toxic and adversely affect some internal organs, such as the liver. Accordingly, if there is an effect from the use of local remedies, then it is better not to take pills.
Treatment of types of foot fungus with folk methods
Photos of the pathology presented in the article in large numbers do not cancel a trip to the doctor.
The choice of medicine is now quite simple. However, many people prefer to treat the fungus with folk remedies. We offer several proven recipes.
- Cleansing the feet. The feet are warmed up in a basin of hot water, rubbed liberally with laundry soap and treated with a hard brush for the feet for five minutes. The foam is washed off. Actions are repeated 4-5 times. Then the feet are wiped dry and smeared with cream.
- Baths of celandine. 50 g of grass is poured with 1.5 liters of boiling water, heated on fire for 4-5 minutes, cooled. In a warm decoction, the feet should be kept for 30 minutes. The duration of the course of treatment is 14 days.
- Tea tree oil is a powerful antiseptic. It must be repeatedly rubbed into the affected areas.
- You can get rid of itching and cracks with sour cream. She lubricates her legs before going to bed. Duration of therapy - 1 week.
- Drinking soda. Eliminates burning and itching of the skin. The powder is mixed with water so as to obtain a thick mass. It is applied to the affected areas, wait until it dries, then wash off.
- Calendula. Flowers (50 gr.) Pourboiling water (1:2), insist 30 minutes, filter. The infusion smears the feet at night.
Prevention
The simplest preventive measures will significantly reduce the likelihood of infection. Only personal items should be used, nails should be treated with sterile instruments. When visiting public places, such as baths, saunas, swimming pools, beaches, you should use your own shoes. By the way, try to choose it so that it is comfortable and allows your legs to breathe.
You should take care of prevention in advance, so that later you do not have to deal with various types of foot fungus. The photo shows not all options for the development of the disease.
